Duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles



A. AMEND Se t. 3a 192.4v

DUPLEX BRAKE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 6, 1921 2 Sheets-$heet 1 ATT RZVEYS.

Sepia 30 1924.

A. AMEND DUPLEX BRAKE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 6, 1921 2 shew-w -sham 2v Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED s'rA'rEs 1,509,919 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR Alililirlll), W6 NEW YORK, N. Y.

n'urnnx Elmira azrncfisnrsmron moron. v'mimmra.

Application al a June" in-192i. Serial Ho. 4715,9159.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Amman, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Duplex Brake Mechanism for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles of the character employing a dual brake control. That is to say, 've icles of the kind having a pedal oper ting a foot brake spindle associated with the brake drums on the rear wheels, andia hand brake or emergency, operatively associated with a hand brake spindle, which controls braking mechanism acting upon the same drums of the rear wheels.

In vehicles of this character, as now conbrake mechanism for braking the rec r wheels,

'while the hand. lever or emergency operates an entirely different set of rake mechanisms. The foot pedal is the one normally employed, but in cases of emergency. the hand lever may be operated simultaneously with the -foot pedal or independently thereof. In all' )rcsent installations, however,

the foot peda and brake lever operate inde pendent: braking mechanisms having no connection with one another andthe operation oi one in .nowise effects the operation of the other.

My long experience in operating and maintaining motor vehicles has shown me that in arrangements of the character described, the foot brake mechanism is suh jected to much more wear than the hand brake mechanism and the "Former requires readjustment and replacement of worn parts from time totime in order to preserve eh" ficicncy in its operation, while the hand. lorake mechanism remains relatively un- =worn through long periods. As many drivers are careless as to the maintenance of their cars, they will continue to'employ foot brake mechanism which is badly worn long after the time when it should have been repaired or the worn parts replaced, and

when such a driver meets withv an emergency, he finds that his foot brake will not hold and-unless he is quick enough to apply the hand brake, an accident usually en sues.

With the foregoing considerations .in

mind, the main object of the present invention is'to provide a construction wherein the wear on the foot and hand brake mechanism of the car will he equalized and accordingly the wear on either minimized. To this end, I so operatively connect the Hand and foot mechanism at the rear of the car that both of such mechanisms are simultaneously operated when either the foot pedal or the hand brake lever is actuated. Through this arrangement, wear is not only equalized, 'but greater efliciency in braking power can be exerted through either of the operated agencies. Thus, in my construction, if the foot pedal is operated, the force exerted by the driver thereon, will be transmitted to both braking mechanisms at the rear end of the car and the same will also be true, when the hand brake lever is operated structed, the foot pedal operates one setoffindepe ndently of the foot pedal.

' 76 The-novel arrangement of this invention,

aside from the important advantages specitied, has a further ver important advan-" tags in that it any o the brake connec tions become orohen, such breakage, will 39 not interfere with, the proper braking of the In rior constructions, the breaking of a tie ro will put the associated brake mechanism out of commission, but with the arrangement of the present invention, such is not the case.

Looking at the invention from a structural standpoint, the same contemplates the operation of each set of brake spindles on either side of the car, through a common tension member, which, because of one of its functions, may be termed an equalizer. Each equalizer is'in turn secured to the rock shafts which are oscillated through opera tion of the foot pedal or the emergency hand brake lever.

In this manner, the foot pedal and hand brake levers are so associated with the equalizers, that-bbth equalizers are responsive to the operations of either the footpedal or thehand lever. Thus, if the foot pedal is operated, tension will be exerted on both equalizers and all four brake spindles will be operated to effect a braking action. in like manner, the operation of the hand lever will effect a-simultaneous braking action. through all four brake spindles. The equalizers are employed, so that the tension applied to the spindles will be equally (iipreferably include a turn buckle vided between each set of spindles, so that the wear on'the brakes will be uniform and this equalizing effect is automatic, thereby obviatm the necessity of frequent adjustmerits. lhe common tension members may, in accordance with this invention, operate directly without the equalizing action ,referred to, but it-is preferred to so construct them that they will equalize the pull for reasons manifest to those skilled in the art.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but theconstruction therein shown, is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as do fining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows, in perspective, the forward portion of, the brake mechanism of this invention; and,

Figure l' shows, in like manner, the rear portion thereof.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 1 designate the hand brake spindles of conventional car construction, and 2 and 2* designate the foot brake spindles. As these spindles are common on many makes of cars, it has not been considered necessary to show them act.-

tion. 7

' In practice, they are generally mounted on brackets, on the rear axle housing and are provided at their outboard ends with cams or links operatingthe brakes.

The referencecharacters 3 andj'denote the usual. rock shafts, by the hand lever 5 tively. The hand lever rock shaft 3 is usually made tubular and the foot pedal rock shaft 1 extends axially'therethrough. Both of these-shafts are, as a general rule, supported on the chassis of the vehicle by means of brackets, not shown. 1

Each hand brake spindle ,1 provided .with an o cratin arm 7 which is ke ed to the spindle and each footbrake spindle is provided with an operating arm 8 keyed to its corresponding spindle; The hand brake rock shaft 3 is provided with two operating 1 arms 9 keyed to thc rock shaft, and the foot brake rock shaft is similarly provided with two operating arms 10. One of the arms 9 of the hand brake rockshaft 3 is connected through a link 11 with the lower end of the hand brake lever 5 and one of the arms 10 of the foot-pedal rock shaft is connected by a link 12 to the foot pedal v6.

In practice, I p 13, in each of the links 11 and. 12,1so as to permit of ad justment in the length of these'links, andI also connect the opposite ends of the links .to a slotted connection, so asto preclude bindually associated with the vehicle construe which are operated and foot pedal 6, respecing and permit perfect rreedom of move ment, irrespective of expansion and contrac tion. 7

It has been the prior practice to connect each of the operating arms 7 of the hand brake spindles 1 and 1 to one of the operating. arms 9 of .the hand brake rock shaft 8, and in a similar manner to connect directly by a link each operating arm 8 with one of the operating arms 10. When such construction is employed, the operation of the foot pedal will effect the operation of the brake spindles2 and2, while the brake s indies 1 and 1 remain idle; Similarly w on the hand .brake lever is operated, with such a construction, the brake spindles 1 and 1 i will function, while the spindles 2 and 2 remain idle. v

In accordance with the present invention,

A 1 associate with each of the operating arms 7 and 8 short links 14 and 15, respectively, and in each link include a turn buckle by means of which the lengths of these nks maybe roperly adjusted. The links-1 associated with the spindles 1. and 2 are secured to a common tension member 17, while the links associated with the spindles 1 and 2' are secured to a common tension member 18.

In practice; I' refer'that these common tension members s all function as ualizers and, accordin ly, they are preferab in substantial y triangular form, the links 14 and 15 being pivoted at two corners of the plates and the operating arms 9 and 10 being associated with a thirdcorner. To this end, I (pivot to the third corner of each plate 17 an 18, a coupling 19 secured to the plates 17, and 18 by pivot pins 20, similar pins 21 being employed to secure the links 1 12 and 15 to the other two corners of each p ate.

Each coupling is provided with two tapped holes, adapted for the reception of threaded ends of two rods 22 and 23. The rods 22 extend forwardly from'the couplin and have a slotted connection with the en 5 of the operating armslO, while the rods 23 extend forwardly and have a slotted connection with the operating arms 9. By virtue of the threaded connection betwen the rods 22 and 23 and the couplings 19, the o erative lengths of these rodsmay be regu atcd while the slotted connections referred to ive absolute freedom of movement and prec ude binding.

y. made 7 In practice, I preferably associate with each of the equalizers 17 and 18, a spring 24, which serves to normally retract the .link 12 on the operating' ierred fnrin of the present invention having been described, the operation of the same will be set forth. q

- In the normal operation of the car, the foot brake pedal is usedexolusively and when operated, this pedal acts through the arm 10 with which it is connected to osci ate the shaft i, on which both of the arms 10 are keyed. Thus when the'pedal 6 is depressed. tension is appliedsimultaneously through both of the rods 22 to both of the equalizers 17 and 1.8.

' The equalizer 17 operates to exert an equal sion. connections shown surate with constitute.

c orclingly,

pull simultaneously on both of the rods 14 and 15 to effect a uniform 0 eration of the e the equalizer 18 o erates in like manner upon the brake spin es 1 and 2. Thus, when the foot pedal is operated all four brake spindles 1, 1, 2 and 2 are simultaneously operated to eflect a braking action onthe car, The same result will occur if the hand brake -lever is operated to the exclusion of the foot a1, except that the'pull of the lever will e transmitted to the equalizers through the-rock shaft 3 and rods 23.

'If in the normal operation, of the car, when the driver isusing the foot pedal, he meets with an emergency which necessitates immediate stopping of the car, he may opcrate both the pedal and hand level simultaneously. In which event, the aggregate force of both the hand and foot willbe exerted on the equalizers and the b akes etfectually set.

It will appear from the foregoing detailed description of the invention that when the same is incorporated in car construction, the

wear on the brakes will be uniform in that such wear will be equalized.

. Moreover, since the driver, controls all of the brakes simultaneously,

he obtains the highest efficiency in braking operation, without subjecting the parts of the assembly to undue strain. Moreover, the whole arrangement isextremely flexible in that there is no binding of the parts and that the force applied by the driver is transmitted uniformly to all of the brakes.

Anotherimportant feature of the invention resides in the fact that the same may be readily associated with conventional 'car construction by simply substituting the tenfor the usual direct connections which conventional pull' rods .1 am aware that the invent. on may he mo ified in details of constructon without departing from the spirit thereqf, and, ac-

this invention is not to be understood as restricted to the s ecuio' showing made, but is as broadly move as is commenthe appended claims. In the majority of makes of cars now on themarket, the brakes of the two rear wheels meeting the hand are actuated by two pairs of spindles, the spindles l and 2 constituting one pair and the spindles 1 and 2, constituting the other pair. The first setof spindles control the brakes of the right rear wheel, while the latter 'pair of spindles control the brakes of the left rear wheel. This is the usual construction. I am aware, however, that in isolated cases, the spindles l and i form a continuation of one another and constitute a single spindle and in like manner, the spindles 2 and 2 are made integral. In certain of the appended claims, the spindles are referred to as operating in pairs, but it will be understood that the constructions c-laimed comprehend the forming of these two pairs integrally as this is a matter of car construction and does not effect the present invention.

Having thus fully what i claim as new and Letters Patent is:

1. Duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles embodying two pairs of brake spindles for operating the brakes of the associated car, an equalizer connected with each pair of brake spindles, links for connecting each spindle of each pair to the equalizer, a braking foot pedal, a braking hand lever, a rock shaft having link connection with the foot pedal and adapted to be oscillated when the foot pedal is operated, a rock shaft having link connection with the hand lever and adapted to be oscillated when the hand lever is operated, a rigid link. operatively connecting the foot lever'rock shaft to each equalizer and a rigid link operatively conlever rock shaft with each equalizer, whereby all of the brake spindles may be operated from the foot pedal without operating the hand lever and vice versa.

2. Duplex hrakemechanism for motor vehicles embodying four brake spindles for braking the rear wheels of a vehicle, a foot pedal, a rock shat't adapted to be oscillated through]operation of the footpedal, a hand lever, alrock shaft adapted to be oscillated through operation of the hand lever, a pair of equalizers, rigid links for connecting each equalizer to both rock shafts, so that both equalizers will be simultaneously operated when either the foot pedal or hand lever is actuated, and means for connecting each described the invention, desire to secure by equalizer to two of said four brake spindles.

3. Duplex broke mechanism for motor vchicles embody ng four brake spindles braking the rear Wheels of a vehicle, an opcrating arm attached to each. brake spindle, a foot pedal, a rock shaft adapted to be oscillated through operation of the foot pedal, a hand lever, a rocknshaft adapted to be oscillated through operation of the hand lever, a pair of equalizers, rigid links for connecting each equalizer to both rock shafts, so that both equalizers will be simultaneously for operated when either the foot pedal or hand lever is actuated, and rigid links for connecting each equalizer to the operating arms of two of said four brake spindles,

4., Duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles embodying four brake spindles for braking the rear wheels of a 'vehicle,'a pair I brake spindles.

5. Duplex brake mechanism for motor ve hicles embodying four brake spindles for braking the rear wheels of a vehicle, a pair of concentric rock shafts, a foot pedal for oscillating one rock shaft, a hand lever for oscillating the other rock shaft, two operatiIig arms rigidly associated with each rock shaft, a pair' of equalizers, a rigid rod extending from each equalizer to one operating arm of eaclrrock shaft, links for connecting each equalizer to two of said four brake spindles, and a spring associated with each equalizer for normally moving the equalizers into positions to release the brakes.

f 6, Duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles embodying two pairs of brake spin dles, each of W ich pairs cooperates with one rear Wheel of a vehicle, an equalizer connected to each pair of spindles, a foot pedal, 'a hand lover, a rock shaft associated -wi th the foot pedal and operable thereby, a i rock shaft associated with the'hand lever and-operable therebyfand links connecting Qeach roclrzshaft with both equalizers where -by vall the spindles may be operated by either the foot pedal exclusively, the hand lever exclusively'or'iby both the foot pedal and hand lever simultaneously.

of each'wheel, a'footpcdal, a hand lever,

means mounted for oscillation and operable by the foot-pedal, means mounted for oscillation and operable by the hand lever, separate and independent links connecting the foot pedal oscillated means to each of the equalizers individually, and additional separate and independent links connecting the hand lever oscillated means to each of the equalizers individually, whereby all four spindles may be operated by either the foot pedal or by the hand lover or by both the foot pedal and hand lever collectively 8. Duplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles embodying four brake spindles, two of which cooperate with each rear Wheel of the associated vehicle, an equalizer o' cra tively connecte'd'to the two brake s indfes of each wheel, a foot pedal, a hand ever, two separate and independent rigid links connected toeach equalizer, means for operatively connecting one rigid link of each equalizer to the foot pedal, and means for operatively connecting the other rigid link of each equalizer to the hand lever, whereby all. four spindles may be operated either by the foot pedal or by the hand lover or by both the foot pedal and hand lever collectively.

9. D uplex brake mechanism for motor vehicles embodying two pairs of brake spindles, each of which pairs cooperates with one rear wheel of a vehicle, an equalizer connected to each pair of spindles, a pair of rock shafts mounted to oscillate, a air of arms on each rock shaft, two rigid links cured to each equalizer and having a pin and slot connection with one of the arms of each rock shaft, a foot pedal, a hand lever, an adjustable link connecting the foot ,dal with one of the rock shafts and an a justable link connecting the hand lever to the other rock shaft, said adjustable links having pin and slot connections with the respective rock shaft-s whereby the brakes may as some a neutral or non-draggin condition when the brake pedal and hand lever are in non-braking positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

ARTHUR AMEND 

